Damping device



Aug. 10, 1937. J. MERCIER A '2,089,657

` DAMPIN'G DEVICE Filed June 22, 1935 s sheets-Sheet;

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lll/11111111111lllflllzllllllllllllh Aug. 10, 1937. J. MERCIER 2,089,557-

DAMPING mwrcr:y

Filed June 22, 1933 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 Jenn Marmer INVENTOR;

Patented Aug. i? 193? Zitat@ iT- STES, TT @FF-i@ DMG DEVICE .lean Mercier, Neuilly-sur-Seine, France application June 22, A1933, serial No.' 617,671

In France .l'uly 5, 1932 1i claims. (ci. 18s-ass) Damping devices or shock absorbers between two elements whose relative displacements are to be damped are already known in which a deformable cntainer which has two opposite walls respectively connected with said two elements communicates with an auxiliary chamber through communicating passages'provided in a partition separating said container from said chamber and adapted to be intercepted by valve means allowing a uid to flow freely between the deformable container and the auxiliary chamber whe'n the volume of the deformable container varies from its initial value and opposing on'the contrary said nuid now when the volume o f the deformable container returns to said initial value.

The present invention relates to a damping device ofthe above mentioned type, in which asliding member adapted to slide in said partition is subjected at its opposite ends to the action of two springs compressed and expanded by the relative displacements oisaid opposite walls and cooperates4 with valve means adapted to open and to close two communicating means between said deformable container and said auxiliary chamber, said two communicating means being closed by said valve means for relative displacements between said walls in opposite directions, in such manner as-to close only oneoi said communicating means for a relative displacement between said opposite walls away from the initi-al position and to close said 'two communicating means at the beginning of arelative displacement between said (opposite walls towards their initial position.

v Due to said arrangement, the valve means may operate with all the desirable freedom under the effect of thediierences of pressure existing between the deformable container and the auxiliary' chamber when the elements to be damped are moved away from .their initial position and the 'springs intervene only in order to control the opening of said valve means when the elements are returned to their initial position.

` In the accompanying drawings, which are given solely by way of example:

Fig. 1 is a diagrammaticvertical section of a double-acting shock-absorber of the reciprocat ing piston and cylinder type.

Fig. 2 is a vertical section through a shock absorber for use with the landing gear oi an aeroplane.Y

Fig. 3 is a plan view of the upper member in contact with the springgcontrollin-g the upper valve'ofthe shock-absorber shown in Fig. 2.

'Fig \4 is a plan view of' the upper valve.

Fig. 5 is a plan View of the seating for the valves.

Fig. 6 is a plan view of the lower valve. Fig. 7 is a plan view of the lower member in Contact with 'the spring controlling the lower valve.

Fig. 8 is a vertical section of another shockabsorber in which the'chamber connecting the two elements whose relative displacements are to Figs. 10, 1l and 12 show vertical sections oi Y three other shock-absorbers, in which the valves are combined with the piston itself.

In the construction shown in Fig. l., the shock absorber is adapted for damping the displacements of the axle of a vehicle with reference to the longitudinal side member of the vehicle frame. The shock-absorber consists of a cylinder 3 which is secured to the longitudinal side member. A

piston l is adapted to reciprocate in the cylinder 3 andv is operatively connected with the vehicle axle.

An auxiliary chamber 2l communicates with the upper chamber 33 formed in the-'cylinder 3 above the piston a, through a secondary cham-4 ber 3i.

Between the chamber 33 and the secondary chamber 34 is located a disc 35 xed in position andpierced with two sets of apertures 36 and 3l. The outer apertures 36 are normally closed by a disc 38 which is perforated at 39 near the center. The disc 33 is normally held upon its seating by a weak spring 'lbearing against a disc il which is connected with the piston l bya much stronger. spring d2. v

The central aperturesV 3l of the disc 35a,re

in like manner closed by a disc 43 whch is pessed upon its seating by a spring 44 which bears upwardly against a disc l5 connected with the disc ll by a rod 45E which is slidable, with the minimum amount of play, in the discs 43, and 38.

A spring 46 which is weaker than the spring 42, is mounted between the tcp of the disc 45 and the wall 32 of the'secondary chamber 34.

In the middle position shown under the action of the springs40 and 45, the discs 38 and 43 are pressed upon their seatings, and al1 connection is cut ofi between the chamber 33 and the secondary chamber 34.

When the piston`4 rises it displaces the spring 42; the disc 4I together with the disc 45 will rise, and due to this motion, the spring 40 is compressed and the disc 38 is strongly held upon its Athe discs 38-35,` the valve 43 being readily raised from its seating. When the piston 4 returns to its middle position, the fluid contained in the chamber 21 and-in the secondary chamber 34 10' cannot iiow in the same path in order to return `to the chamber 33, as the valve 43 is now pressed against its seating, and the uid must thus pass through the outer apertures 36 of the disc 35,

thus raising the valve 38 which is more strongly 15Lpressed by the spring 42 according as the piston 4 has moved to a greater distance from its middle position lduring the rising motion. This will afford the desired rate of decreasing resistance according as the piston 4 returns to its mean DOSitiOn. d l

If when starting from the idle position herein represented', the piston 4 descends, the operation is lthe reverse of what has been described. In fact, the combination 4I-45 descends, the spring 44 is compressed, thus pressing the valve 43 strongly upon its seating. 0n the contrary, the spring 48 expands, and the fluid can readily pass through the orices 36 of the secondary chamber 34 into the chamber 33; During' the rise of -the piston 4 towards its middle position, the valve 38 is pressed upon its seating, and the fluid must ow through the orifices 39 and 31 in order to pass into the secondary chamber 34, thus raising the valve 43 whichis pressed more strongly upon its seating according as the piston has descended to a greater distance from its middle position.

The ilid contained in the chambers 21, 33 and' .34 may be air or another gaseous uid; it is also possible to introduce oil or another liquid in the o chambers 33 and 21, buir thev presence or the absence of oil or another liquid is independent of the'object ofthe invention. When more oil is introduced into the device, said device will be strong springing; on the contrary,l when there is 45 no oil or but a little oil in the device, said device whose relative displacements are" to be damped when they return to their middle position, con-V sist of a cylinder 41 which is secured at 48 to e the structure ofthe aeroplane, and of a second cylinder 49 secured at 58 to the landing gear. 5 Thevcylinder 49 enters the cylinder 41 through its bottom part 5l. The upper chamber 52 pro-l vided in `the cylinder 41 is made non-leaking by a stufiingbox 53 which is mounted between the upper end of the cylinder 49 and the outer cylinder 41.

The upper end of the cylinderv 49 carries a ring-shaped member 54 serving as a sup-port for the system .of valves which will be further described. To the said member is secured a disc 35c (Figs. 2 and 5) pierced with two sets of apertures 3621-31a which are in the alternate position from one set to another. The apertures 368L are normally closedby a Valve 38a (Figs, 2 and 6) having the form of a double sector and held upon its seating by a spring 40HL bearing vagainst a double sector 41B' (Figs. 2 and 7), which bears, through the medium of a spring 42e, upon the 'lower shoulder 55 of a cylinder or like support 56 forming part of or separately secured to 75 the ring 54. The other sets of apertures 31a are Y closed by a valve 43a (Figs. 2 and 4) having the form of a double sector and applied on its seating by a spring 44a bearing upon a plate 45c hav-v ing the form of a double sector (Figs. 2 and 3) .and connected by the rod 45*i with the double sector 4I, A spring 46? bears at one end upon the plate 45 and at the upper end against the inner end 51 of the chamber 52. As will be noted, thecompression of'the spring 46a depends upon the relative position of the two cylinders 41 and 49 whose return motion towards the middle position isto be damped.

The whole device is filled with compressed air or other fluid.

The operation of the said device is quite the same as'described with reference to Fig. 1.

Before the landing takes place, the cylinder 49 is in the lower position. During the landing, the cylinder 49, in order to be able to rise, must overcome the pressure prevailing in the chamber 52, as the counter-pressure due to the difference between the forces of the springs 42a and 46a prevents the compressed fluid from proceeding into the, hollow piston 49. Thus the-landing gear'absorbs more energy than a system of the piston type without the valve according to the invention. If' the ow sections are properly calculated, the internal friction ofv the compressed ainwill still further increase the energy absorbed.

Vllt should be noted that the relative displacements of the cylinders 41 and 49 make it neces. sary to employ a suitable lubrication for the surfaces in contact. This will be assured by a lubricant placed in the annular space 86 between the cylinder 41 and theextended part 81 of the member 54. l

The lubricant which iiows into the lower part of the cylinder 49 through the set of valves, will be raised in any suitable manner, for instance by a tube 88, provided -at the lower end with holes i 6 communicating with a box l1 which in turn is provided with an aperture I8 adapted to be closed by a' valve -89. When the pressure of the fluidin the lower part of 'the cylinder 49 increases, the lubricant contained in'this cylinder will be driven through the aperture I8, the box l1, the holes I6 and the tube 88 into the supply d chamber 86; The lubricant further assures nonleaking Vconditions for the devices.

Fig. 8 shows -a shock-absorber which is quite analogousto the one' represented in Fig. 2, but which is chieiiy adapted for'damping the relative displacements of a vehicle axley and frame.

The said shock-absorber comprises two supports '5S-59 which are secured respectively to the axle and to-'the frame of the vehicle. Be-

tween the two supports is mounted, in the known manner, a torus-shaped exibie casing 60. which is held by its edges 6I upon the supports 58-59 by means of a disc 62 and a ring 63, which are mounted on the supports by screws 64. .The upper support 59 is upwardly extendedby two tubes 65 and 66 which are secured together. The

. and 5 and having two s'ets of apertures which are respectively closed by two double sectors 38b and 43h, pressed upon their seatings by respecl tive springs 48b and 44": The said springs bear respectively upon double sectors 4|b and 45h-which are connected together by the rod 45a. 'Ihe defile cooperating with the valves 38e and i332.

aoeaesv 3 vice formed byothe two sectors isin'equilibrium for each relative position of the supports 58 and by two annular shoulders 35a and 35, in which are respectively provided the apertures 3%@ and.

The closing of the central apertures of the shoulders 35i- 35b `is assured, when the piston d leaves the middle position, by a disc ed mounted on -a rod its by which the supporting members di and 65e are connected together.

The operation is the same as in the preceding cases.

Fig. 10 represents another construction, in which the piston is itself forms part of the valve system. Herein the piston is is pierced with an orifice 'lll which may be closed by one or the other of two solid discs s l-l which are connected .together axially by a rod liwtwo springs mf-liti are respectively in contact with the said discs.

. The spring d6 Valso bears against the end oi the cylinder, whilst the spring @2f bears against a boss l5 pertaining to the piston te, by which the piston is connected with the operating rod '13. The upperpartv of the cylinder. communicates by means of an oriiice 'lll and a conduit l5, with an orifice 15 in the saidfcylinder which is located just below the lower part `of the piston when the latter is inthe middle position. A ball 'il' contained in a small chamber 'i8 is normally pressed against the orice lll by a spring '19.

The case 85 which is mounted below the piston la communicates through aconduit El with an orice 82 formed in the wall of the cylinder 3 just above the piston da, whenthe latter is in 40 the middle position.

is contained in a small casing 861' mounted on the conduit'il and isvpressed upon its seating by aspring 35, thus allowing the liquid to circulate I in the said conduit only in 'the direction of the arrow f4.

The operation is as follows: Let it be supposed v that the piston de rises above its middle position.

The piston at once closes the oriiice t2, and thus the liquid in the upper chamber 33. can only proceed into the case 8D through the conduit iii, after raising the ball or other valve 'il from its seating.

The liquid cannot, in fact, pass through ythe aperture lil of the piston i, as very shortly after the piston has left its middle position, it makes contact with the disc l2 which is then raised-bythe piston, the spring tlfbeing compressed according tothe rise of the piston.

vWhen lthe piston descends towards its middle position, the liquid in the lower case 83, which is to return to the upper chamber 33, cannot pass through the conduit 8l, as its orifice is closed by the wall of the piston da', nor through the conduit "i5, as the ball 'i'i is pressed upon its seating, and thus it is obliged to raise' the valve l2, and the spring Gf oiers to this lifting, and hence to the passage of the liquid, a resistance which increases according as the piston is separated from its middle'position.

The operation is the same when the piston da 7'0 descends from its middle position. In fact, during the descent, the liquid in the case Si@ which is unableto passthrough the vconduit 1,5 on ac-V 'count-'of the ball l1, passes through the conduit 8l whose orifice 82 is' uncovered by the piston. The liquid cannot pass through the central ori- A ball or like valve t3 nce le of the piston, as a very short time after the piston starts upon contact with the disc 'il which is in fact brought down during the remainder of the descent o the piston. During this stroke, the action of the upper spring idf decreases for this spring continues to expand, and thusthe valve 'il is more strongly pressed upon its seating, since the action of thespring 2f now prevails. During-the upward stroke of the piston [la corresponding to the return to the middle position, the liquid which is to proceed from the upper chamber 33 to the case 30 cannot pass through the conduit l5, as its lower orifice l is closed by the piston, nor through the conduit 8| on account of the valve 83. It is thus obliged to raise the valve 1l, which is more strongly pressed upon its seating according as the piston has descended to a greater degree during the forward stroke. As will be observed, this device corresponds entirely to the desired conditions.

Fig. l1 shows amodifcation in which the valves 'il and 12 represented in the preceding case are replaced by two discs 'H' and '12', connected together by a cylindrical member QG slidable in the aperture ED of the piston dband having longitudinal apertures 9|. The two discs 'iV-'I2' have apertures at 92-93 co-operating with a ball 9d contained in the member Sil.

The operation is as follows. During the rise of the piston lb, it makes contact with the disc 12', and thus the apertures 9| of the cylindrical member will extend under the piston. The liquid will hence proceed from the chamber 33 through these apertures and-passes freely into the lower case B. The spring lSf is more strong-V ly compressed as the piston rises. When the latter returns to the middle position, the liquid should pass from the case 8U into the upper chamber '33, but at this time the ball Sli is applied upon the orifice 93, so that the liquid is now obliged t'o raise the set of valves against the action of the spring @Si in order to pass through the descent, it makes the lateral apertures @l of the member-'910. This lifting action is more difficult according as the piston is farther from its middle position.

The said device is quite symmetrical, and for this reason its operation is the same in the vcase in which the piston moves downwardly from its middle position.

' Fig. l2 shows a modification of the device represented in Fig. ll. A single valve structure provided with conical ends 'lia and T2El adapted to seat on correspondingly shaped valve seats l2 and i3 provided in the piston lc is contained in the piston itself, which is operatively connected to the vehicle axle through the levers 5 and 'l pivoted at S, and the single ball 94 is replaced by two balls 9d and Stb mounted in cages 95 and 96 secured to the valve structure 'HL-lv.

Alipertures 9 i are provided in said valve structure.

The broken conduit at the lower part o f said Aclaim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

1. In a damping device, in combination a con-4 tainer, fluid compressing means having two opposite walls adapted to bebrought towards and away from each other, one o f said walls separating said fluid compressing means `from said con-` tainer, a sliding member adapted to slide in said separating wall, two springs bearing respectively on the opposite ends of saidv sliding member and adapted tobe compressed and expanded by the relative displacements of said opposite walls, a passage insaid separating wall, through which said container and said fluid compressing means are adapted to communicate, obturating means carried on said sliding member and adapted to be brought into contact with said separating wall opposite said passage for a relative displacement. kbetween said opposite walls in one direction, communicating means between said container and said uid compressing means, and valve means adapted to close saidV communicating means during a relative displacement between said opposite walls in the other direction.

2. In a damping device according tov claim 1,

the further feature consisting in that said coinmunicating means is in the form of a conduit independent of said separating wall and of said sliding member.

3. vIn va damping device according to claim 1, the further feature consisting in that said communicating means is provided in said separating wall.

4. In a damping device according to claim 1,

the further feature consisting in that said communicating means is provided -in 'said sliding.

member.

5I In a damping device, in combination, a container, fluid compressing vmeans having two opposite walls adapted to be brought towards `and away from each other, one of said walls separating said iiuld compressing means from said container, a sliding member adapted to slide in said separating wall, two springs bearing respectively on the opposite ends of said sliding member and adapted'to be compressed and expanded by the relative displacements of said opposite walls, two communicating means between said container and saidfluid compressing means, at each end of said sliding member an obturating member municating means and to close the same communicating means for a relative displacement of said opposite vwalls in a contrary direction.

6. In a damping device according to claim 5, the further feature consisting in that one of said communicating means `is provided' in said sepa- 'sliding .member and rating wall, the other communicating means is in the form of two conduits connecting said fluid compressing means with said container, said conduits opening at oneend on either side of said fseparatlng wall in :the inoperative positioni of said iiuid compressing means, and at the other end ata distance from said separating wall at least equal to the greatest relative displacement between said opposite walls. and said valve means is in the form of a valve member provided in each conduit and adapted to be opened when the iiuid in `said conduit is circulated towards the end of.

said conduit adjacent to said separating wall'.

7. In a damping device according to claim 5. the further feature consisting in that one o1' said communicating means is rating wall, the other com unicating means and said valve means being provided in said sliding "memben 8. In a damping device according to claim 5,

the further feature consisting in that one of said communicating means is provided in said separating wall, the other communicating means being in the form of two conduits provided in said sliding member, each conduit being adapted to be closed by said valve means when the other conduit is adapted to be opened.

9. In a damping device according to` claim 5,

the further feature/consisting in that one of said communicating means is provided in said separatlng wall, the other communicating means being,

inthe form of a hole extending through said of at least one lateral con- :duit connected with outer lateral wall of said sliding member towards the central portion of said member, and said valve means consists of at least one ball-shaped member adapted to intercept said hole on either side of said lateral conduit'.

l0. In a` damping device, in combination, a container, uid compressing means having two said hole and opening in the provided in said sepa- A opposite walls adapted to be brought towards and away from each other, one of saidwalls separating said fluid compressing means from said container, a sli-ding member adapted to slide in said separating wall, two springs bearing respectively on the opposite ends of said sliding member and adapted. to be compressed and expanded by the relative displacements of said opposite walls, two communicating means provided in said separatlngwall, twov valve members disposed on either.

side of said separating wall, one valve member being provided for each communicating means, and at each end of said sliding member an abutment member, each corresponding tok a valve member and adapted to move said valve member against said separating wall.

11. In a damping device according to claim 10, the further feature consisting in auxiliary spring means for each valve member bearing on one side on said valve member and on the other side on thev corresponding abutment member.

' JEAN MERCIER. 

